US: Man gets 15-year-prison sentence for trying to aid ISIS

The case against Adam Dandach, 22, is one in a series involving young men in states ranging from California to Georgia who have been charged with trying to assist Islamic State and other terrorist groups.

The US “faces significant threat from terrorists’ acts planned or committed by homegrown violent extremists like (the) defendant who become radicalized online and seek to engage in terror and support groups like ISIL,” federal prosecutors wrote in court filings. File Photo/Agencies

A California man who aspired to join the Islamic State group in Syria and lied to get a replacement American passport to head overseas was sentenced today to 15 years in prison and supervised release for life.

The case against Adam Dandach, 22, is one in a series involving young men in states ranging from California to Georgia who have been charged with trying to assist Islamic State and other terrorist groups.

Dandach, an Orange County native, pleaded guilty in 2015 to attempting to provide material support to a terror group and lying on his passport application. Federal prosecutors had sought a 20-year sentence.

The US “faces significant threat from terrorists’ acts planned or committed by homegrown violent extremists like (the) defendant who become radicalized online and seek to engage in terror and support groups like ISIL,” federal prosecutors wrote in court filings.

Before ordering the sentence, US District Judge James V Selna in Santa Ana called Dandach’s conduct “serious” and said terrorist activity in any form is a threat to the United States and other countries.

Dandach appeared in court wearing shackles and a tan jail jumpsuit and said he had dissociated himself from the person he used to be.

“Pardon me for my poor judgment,” he told the court. “I believe it should be understood that I am just a hollow shell of what I used to be.”

Dandach’s mother sobbed in the courtroom during the hearing. Dandach had praised terrorists and promoted their lectures and videos online before planning to go to Syria, federal prosecutors wrote.

After Dandach’s mother took his passport to keep him from traveling abroad, he lied to get a replacement saying he had accidentally tossed out his old passport then booked a trip for July 2014.

He was stopped at John Wayne Airport by FBI agents who found his smartphone loaded with jihadi songs supporting Islamic State fighters, maps of areas the group controlled, and Twitter updates on fighting by the terrorist group.